Washing machine



Jun 15, 1943.

L. ANDERSEN WASHING MACHINE Filed April 22, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 1zZNVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

June 15, 1943. ANDERSEN WASHING MACHINE Filed April 22, 19

40 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

NVENTOR. 1 3} ATTORNEY.

June 15, 1943. 1.. ANDERSEN WASHING MACHINE Filed April 22, 1940 8Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Ju L. ANDERSEN 2,321,641

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 22, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 5 5 L. H6. 2/ g /69INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

June 15, 1943- 1.. ANDERSEN 2,321,641

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 22, 1940 s Shets-Sheet s Will) mvamon VATTORNEY.

June 15, 1943,. l 1 ANDERSE N I 2,321,541

" WASHING MACHINE Filed April 22, lQQL 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 .VENTOR.

' ATTORNEY.

June 15, 1943. L. ANDERSEN 2,321,641

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 22, 1940 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 34 TXIZHINVENTOR.

BY W52 W ATTORNEY.

Patented June 15, 1943 WASHING MACHINE Ludvig' Andersen, Wauwatosa, Wis.

Application April 22, 1940, Serial No. 330,938

16 Claims.

the part of the operator from the time the machine is started until theclothes have been cleansed and brought to the desired degree of minimummoisture content.

It is of one of the objects of this invention to provide a fullyautomatic washing machine. It is another object of this invention toprovide a washing machine which may automatically cleanse soiledclothing, rinse out the soapy water, with or without the addition ofbluing to the rinsing water, and then dry the washed clothes to apredetermined degree of moisture, all these steps being sequentiallyperformed automatically,

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rotary washingmachine having an improved friction clutch transmission therein, wherebythe rotation of the drum may be started gradually and uniformly with asingle-speed motor without requiring an unduly large starting current.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, in a washingmachine, a rotary drum driven by a power shaft thru a clutch mechanismwhich is rendered operative only when the closure for the drum isfastened in place, whereby said drum cannot be rotated unless theclosure is fastened in place.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a washing machinecomprising a rotary' drum provided with a central tapered water ad--mission chamber and substantially radial vanes for maintaining apositive head of water in the rotary drum during operation thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a washing machine ofthe rotary drum type equipped with an alarm for notifying the operatorwhen rotation of the drum begins and ends.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a washing machineequipped with an auxiliary fluid tank, whereby the same fluid may beused therein repeatedly.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a washing machine inwhich material may be dried by centrifugal action combined with pas sageof air, preheated or not, thru said material; a further object of theinvention being to provide humidity-sensitive control means for stoppingthe drying action when the material being dried has reached a desiredminimum moisture content.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a clothes washingmachine in which part of the mechanism is water-lubricated; a furtherobject being to provide a transmission for a washing machine in whichlubricating oil is prevented from contaminating the washing fluid, andvice versa.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, in an automaticclothes washing machine, means for predetermining the length of thecycle of operations performed by said machine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, in a clotheswashing machine, a compound valve arranged so that continuous movementof an element of said valve results in successively directing fluid toand from said washing machine as required to perform the various stepsof a,

washing cycle; a further object being to provide from the followingdescription of this invention,

taken in conjunction with the drawings and the claims appended hereto.In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved washing machine,showing more particularly the construction of the rotatable drum, thetransmission for rotating same, and the auxiliary tank.

Figs. la and 1b are enlarged detail views of the sound alarm mechanismindicated at the top of the rotatable drum of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of the washing machine taken on sectionline 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section detail view taken on the line III-III ofFig. 2, and more particularly illustrating the operating levers andassociated mechanism, as Well as the compound valve, of this invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a detail of the transmissionclutch elements generally shown near the top of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmental vertical sectional views showin thecompound valve in diifere-nt successive positions.

Fig. 8 is also a sectional view of the valve and shows the piping systemassociated with the valve.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the thermostatic fluidproportioning means, taken on line IX--IX of Figs. 10 and 11.

Fig. 10 is a plan View of same, taken on line X--X of Fig. 12.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional View of same taken on the line XI-XI ofFig. 12.

Fig. 12 is an elevation view of same.

Fig. 13 is a plan sectional view of the lower portion of the soapdispensing means, taken on the line XIII--XIII of Fig. 16

Fig. 14 is an exploded view of the clutch shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view taken on line XV-XV of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view of the soap dispenser, taken onlines XVI-XVI of Fig. 17L

Fig. 17 is an elevation view of the soap dispenser.

Fig. 18 is a sectional plan view of the bluing dispenser, taken on lineXVIIIXVIII of Fig. 20. Fig. 19 is an elevation sectional View of same.

taken on line XIX-XIX of Fig. 20.

Fig. 20 is an elevation view of same.

Fig. 21 is a circuit diagram illustrating the electrical circuit of theautomatic washing machine of this invention.

Rotary drum Referring to the figures in detail, and with particularreference to Fig. 1, the washing machine of the invention is supportedby means of a base or frame I0 of which the bottom II and peripheralwall l2 form a fluid containing tank ll. Fixed to the base is astationary standard or post I3, which carries upper and lower bearingsl4 and I5, for supporting a rotatable sleeve I1, which is the hub ofrotary drum or clothes container 18. An annular chamber l6 locatedbetween rotary sleeve l1 and stationary standard l3, has water admittedthereto by means of pipe I03 and channel I04, thus providing waterlubrication for bearings I4 and I5, which ar made of material such as aphenol condensation product suited for water lubrication. This avoidsthe necessity for using lubricating oil adjacent the cleansing water.

Rotary drum 18 comprises outer wall l9, provided with ribs 20, bottommember 21, inner depending skirt 22, and a plurality of substantiallyradial vane 23, these vanes being slanted forward at the lower portionsthereof, as shown in Fig. 2, in the direction of rotation of the drum,in order to lift water from bowl or well 24 upward. The rotation ofthese slanted radial vanes, together with the centrifugal force of waterraised by said vanes, creates a positive head of water inside the drumduring rotation thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1, outer wall I!) of drum I8 is provided with aplurality of internal ribs 20, preferably horizontal, and a plurality ofupwardly directed apertures 26. A cylindrical coarse mesh screen 21, forretaining the clothes being washed from contact with wall I 9 of thedrum, is mounted adjacent said wall and supported by ribs 20, a finemesh screen 21 being located inward of screen 21. Centrally of the drumare two members 28 and 29, preferably frusto-conical, supported onsleeve I! and bottom 2|, respectively. The annular space betweenfrusto-conical members 28 and 29 forms a fluid admission chamber which,together with frusto-conical skirt 22, during rotation of the drum,retains a positive head of water lifted thereinto by vanes 23. Becausethe diameter of this fluid admission chamber increasse in an upwarddirection, water received in this chamber is urged upwardly bycentrifugal force to the top of drum l8, aiding in the maintenance of adefinite head of water available for treatment of the material in thedrum. It will be understood that inner member 28 is imperforate, whileouter member 29 is foraminated to permit water from the fluid admissionchamber to pass into the clothes containing portion of the drum. Member29 need not extend thru the full length of the drum. Passages 30 areprovided to permit any water which may have entered inside of member 28to drain down into well 24.

Stationary bottom plate 32 is suitably supported, as by attachment tothe lower portion of standard I3, the inner part of bottom plate 32coacting with standard l3 to form the well or bowl 24. The under side ofplate 32 carries heating elements 33 in intimate thermal contacttherewith, for maintaining the temperature of washing or rinsing wateror of drying air passing thru the drum. Plate 32, by means of suitableribs, supports drum enclosing bafiie wall 34, and deflector plate 35, aswell as outer casing 36 and skirt 3?. An auxiliary cover or closure forthe machine comprises inner disk-38' and outer annulus 39 which fits theupper edge of casing 36, the two portions of the outer cover beingspaced from each other by spacers 40 to provide an annular air passagetherebetween.

The drum is closed at the top by means of main cover 42 which closelyfits the upper edge of wall l9. Cover 42 carries a pivotally supportedflyweight 43, best shown in Figs. 1a and 1b, which is retained in araised position by means of spring 44, a stop lug 45 limiting the upwardmovement of fiyweight 43. A roller 41 may be provided near the end ofthe flyweight, said roller being adapted to impact against a boss 48carried by cover 38 when the flyweight is in its raised position. Thisoccurs when the drum is being started from standstill, or is beingbrought to a stop, the sound produced by these impacts notifying theoperator that the drum is being started or stopped. When the drum isrotating at normal operating speed, however, centrifugal force, actingin opposition to spring 44, causes the fly-- weight to fly outward anddownward into the position shown in Fig. 1, so that impacts with boss 48do not take place.

Mounted centrally of the machine and attached to the frame I0 is a pumpand gear casing 50 and motor support bracket 5!. The latter carries anelectric motor 52' which, thru bevel gears 53 and 54, rotates driveshaft 56 which is supported on a step bearing in gear case 50. It willbe understood that the motor and control means described below arelocated at one s de of the central axis of the drum at the approximateelevation of the tank H formed by wall l2, the fluid containing portionof said tank being closed by radial walls 12'. The drive shaft 56carries a centrifugal pump 51. It will be noted that the gear chamber isentirely closed and separate from other parts of the mechanism, so thatthere is no possibility of lubricating oil from the gear chambercontaminating the washing fluid, or of water getting into the gearchamber.

Drive shaft 56 drives rotary drum 18 thru a clutch best shown in Fig. 4.The reduced upper end of drive shaft 56 carries splined thereto avertically movable follower 58, which is internally threaded at 59, andis operable by actuating screw iii. A conical internal friction surface62 is provided near the top of sleeve II. this surface being engageableby the outer surface of conical clutch member 63, which is splined onfollower 51 to rotate therewith. A compression spring 64 is locatedbetween clutch cone 63 and a flange of follower 58. Actuating screw 6Iis provided with an operating knob 66, the bottom of which bears againstmain cover 42, which may be provided with a friction surface 6! toengage with a complementary surface of sleeve Il. Should the upwardpressure of the water in drum I8 exert a force on cover 42 sufficient totend to raise the cover, it will be noted that the bottom flange offollower 58 will abut an internal shoulder of sleeve I'I, preventingappreciable upward movement of cover 42.

From the above description, it will be noted that when closure 42 isremoved from the drum, the main shaft cannot rotate the drum, since thefollower 58, being in its lowest position, does not cause drivingengagement between clutch cone 63 and hub II. This is a safety featureof importance. When, however, cover 42 is tightened in place by means ofactuating screw 6| and knob 66, follower 58 is moved upward and forcesclutch cone 63 into engagement with sleeve II, so that sleeve I1 anddrum I8 are in frictional driving engagement with drive shaft 56.

' Valve construction The following is a description of the novel valvemechanism of this invention, reference being made particularly to Figs.3 and 5 to 8.

Valve block 69 is mounted on frame I0 beneath rotating drum I8. Thevalve block is provided with a plurality of valve chambers II-83inclusive, and valve piston 85, slidable in a closely fitting borepassing thru said valve chambers 'II-83.

Water at a desired temperature is admitted to valve block 69 thru port86, which is controlled by manually operated inlet valve 81. Arestriction valve 88 is located in port 86, said port connecting inletvalve 81 with valve chamber 83 and, thru restriction valve 88, valvechamber 8|. Upper valve chamber 'II connects with port 89 which connectswith bowl 24. Valve chambers I2 and I4 are connected by port 9|, chamberI4 being connected by means of pipe 92 (Fig. 8) with the inlet endof.centrifuga1 pump 51. Port 93 (Fig. 8) connects valve chamber I4 withvalve chamber I6 and drain connection 94 to the tank I I, diversionvalve 96, operable by means of handle 95, being inserted to divert thewater from valve chamber-16 either to the tank I I or to the pump 51 byway of valve chamber I4.

Valve chamber I3 is adapted to receive water from tank II' by way ofintake pipe 91 (Fig. 8) Port 98 connects the bottom of well 24 withvalve chamber I5, the latter being connected with valve chambers 11 and80 by means of port 99. A port IOI leads from the outlet of centrifugalpump 51 to valve chamber I8. Valve chamber I9 is connected with a drainby means of port I02. Valve chamber 8| is connected by pipe I03 and portI04 with annular water lubricating chamber I6 (see Fig. 3).

Dash pot is pressed downward against the tension of helical spring I08,mounted on an abutment on clash pot cylinder I01. Upon releasing the armafter pressing it down, the spring urges the operating arm I08 upward,thereby causing the cycle of operations to be described later. Anadjustable stop screw H0 is provided at the upper portion of operatingarm I08, to determine the upper limit of movement of operating arm I08when stop screw I I0 abuts bottom plate 32.

The bottom of dash pot piston I0! is provided with two ports, one beingadjustably closed by needle-valve I09, while the other is normallyclosed by spring pressed valve II I. Needle valve I09 is threaded in asuitable bore in piston I01, and adjustment of the valve is effected bymeans of an operating handle II2 which is pivotally mounted on needlevalve I09 and passes thru a lateral slot in operating panel II3. HandleH2 is pivotally mounted so that it can remain accessible to an operatoroutside panel H3 while pistons and I01 move up or down withoperating armI 08. It will be understood that movement of handle II2circumferentially about needle valve I09 changes the setting of theneedle valve and therefore determines the speed of movement of pistons85 and IN upward under the influence of spring I08.

Spring pressed valve III may be manually opened whenever desired by theoperator by pressing inward on dash pot release lever II4, pivoted atII6, thereby raising connecting link 1, which raises valve III againstthe pressure of its spring. Upon downward movement of operating arm I08,valve III is pressed upward against its spring by the pressure of thefluid in the dash pot, permitting the rapid descent of dash pot pistonI01 and valve piston 85.

Water proportioning chamber Water is admitted to the washing machinethru hot and cold water pipes II8, which admit water into thermostaticproportioning chamber I20, which is suitably attached to valve block 69,the bottom opening of the proportioning chamber communicating with port86 of the valve block and being regulable by manual valve 81.

As shown more particularly in Figures 9 to 12, thermostaticproportioning chamber I20 is provided with inlets I2I and I22 for hotand cold water, respectively. A wall I23 intermediate these inletsdirects both streams of water downward into the proportioning chamber. Abimetallic thermostat element I24 is carried by means of pivoted pinI25, which is'suitably supported Thermostat element I24 may bepreset'for any' desired water temperature, as for washing clothes ofdifferent materials. To accomplish this, thermostat lever I28 isfastened to pin I25. It will be seen that movement of lever I28circumferentially about pin I25 will determine the original position ofthermostat I24. Operating arm I08 carries thermostat cam actuator I29which is adapted to contact a cam surface on one side of thermostatlever I28, which is spring biased into contact with cam actuator I29.The latter may be rotated by means of knob I30 (Fig. 3) to obtain thedesired setting of lever I28 and therefore of proportioning element I26.A suitable spring-pressed pin and groove retaining means may be providedto maintain cam actuator I23 in any set position.

Soap dispenser Automatic means for depositing predetermined amounts ofsoap is provided in accordance with this invention. As best shown inFigs. 2 and 13-17, the soap dispenser comprises a soap container I3Iwhich is suitably fastened to an edge of bottom plate 32, and is rovidedwith removable cover I32. At the bottom of container I3I is a hopperI33, having one wall thereof hinged at I34, the hopper being suitablymounted on bottom plate 32, and carrying a rotary metering feederelement I 35 fixed on rotary shaft I36. Hopper I33 is arranged over tankII, as shown in Fig. 2, so that soap leaving feeder I35 drops into thetank II. A pinion I31, carried by shaft I36, meshes with a rack I38,which is carried by a pin I39 passing thru a suitable aperture in rackI38, the rack being retained in engagement with pinion I31 by a backingroller I40 and retaining plate I4I Pin I39, which carries rack I38, iscarried by a rod I39 (see Fig. 19) and moves up and down with operatingarm I08, as described below.

Rotary feeder element I35 is shown as comprising four radial pockets,and is fixed on shaft I36. A selective clutch mechanism is providedbetween shafts I36 and I36 to rotate feeder element I35 by apredetermined amount depending upon the setting of feeder handle I42.This clutch mechanism comprises driving clutch element I43 and drivenclutch element I44. The latter has, in this case, three clutch fingersI45, I46, I41 of different lengths. Clutch members I43 and I44 arenormally kept out of engagement by spring I48 acting thru collars I49and I50.

The axial position of driving clutch element I43 is determined by theposition of axially adjustable spring pressed feeder regulator I42.Driven clutch element I44 is connected by a pin and ratchet with shaftI36 so that, when the clutch elements I 43 and I44 are in engagement andrack I38 is moved downward (Fig. 16), shaft I36 and feeder I35 arerotated in a counterclockwise direction by an amount depending on therelative axial position of feeder regulator I42 and clutch drivingelement I43.

If driving clutch element I43 is in position to engage clutch fingerI41, complete downward movement of rack I38 will result in a 180 movement of feeder I35, emptying two pockets of soap into tank II.Similarly, if driving clutch element I43 is set to engage driven clutchfin.- ger I46, full downward movement of rack I38 will result in 270rotation of feeder I35, empty: ing three pockets of soap into tank II;While engagement of driving element I43 with finger I45 will result inemptying four pockets of soap into tank II upon a single downwardmovement of rack I 38. A pin and ratchet connection between drivenclutch element I44 and feeder shaft I36 permits upward movement of rackI38 with no resultant movement of feeder I35, which is retained againstreverse rotation by means of pawl I 35'. A conical bearing surface II isprovided on driving clutch element I43, to provide a bearing surface forthe inner end of feeder regulator I42. It is obvious that more thanthree settings of the soap feeder may be arranged, if desired. It willbe noted that an inner wall of hopper I 33 is pivotally mounted at I34on said hopper, and is spring biased toward feeder I35. This permitssaid wall being swung away from feeder element I for accessibility tothe feeder element, and to make the feeder self-clearing.

Bluing dispenser In order to add bluing to the rinse water at a desiredstage of the washing cycle, a preferred construction of bluing dispenseris provided, as illustrated in Figs. 18, 19 and 20. The bluing dispensercomprises a casing I53 carried by or integral with bottom plate 32 andlocated between baffle wall 34 and outer casing 36. Pivotally mounted incasing I53 is a ladle I54 provided with a discharge channel I55. A portI51 leads from the depending rear lip of ladle I54 to conduct bluingonto the upper surface of bottom plate 32, where it mixes with the rinsewater. Any desired amount of bluing may be poured into container I53thru opening I58 provided with stopper I59. Ladle I54 is raised todischarge its load of bluing by means of link I6I the starting elevationof which is determined by the setting of hollow screw I62 carried by rodI39, which connects with abutment II5 provided on operating arm I08 bymeans of pin I60, so that as the operating arm I08 rises under theinfluence of spring I08, it will raise link I6I with it, therebydischarging ladle I54. Link I BI is loosely carried in the bore of screwI62, so that lost motion between rod I39 and link I6! is provided. Itwill be noted that rod I39 also actuates the soap dispenser, aspreviously described.

If it is not desired to use bluing during the cycle, the ladle I64 maybe locked it its upper position, above the level of bluing in containerI53, by means of stop member I64, operable by handle I63. When, withladle I54 in its raised position, handle I 63 and stop member I64 areturned counter-clockwise 180 from the position shown in Fig. 20, uponreleasing ladle I54 it will descend only until abutment I65 strikes andrests on the end of stop member I64, thereby preventing descent of ladleI54 into the bluing. Handle I63 is accessible outside outer casing 36.

Electrical circuit Referring now to Figs. 1 and 21, the motor 52 isenergized by a switch I61 which is operable by a forked arm I68 carriedby operating arm I08. Upon descent of operating arm I08, switch I61 isactuated to energize motor 52. In parallel With the motor are two ormore heating elements 33, one or more of which is or are in series withswitch I69, as shown. Switch I69 may be operated thermostatically or byhand.

Mounted between bafile wall 34 and outer casing 36 is a humiditysensitive control I1I which actuates a second motor switch I12. Humiditysensitive element I1I is shown only diagrammatically, since a number ofsuch controls are known and are available. Switch I12 is closed byhumidostat I1I as soon as water is introduced into drum I8, and remainsclosed until the contents of the drum have attained a predeterminedminimum degree of moisture, when the humidostat opens switch I12.Humidostat I1I may be adjustable to shut off the motor when any desiredminimum moisture content of clothes being dried has been reached. Asshown in Fig. 1, humidostat IN is mounted on baffle wall 34 in suchmanner that air leaving drum I8 passes about said humidity sensitiveelement thru a tortuous passage which prevents water from the drum fromreaching said humidity sensitive element.

- Cycle of operation handle II2 inward or outward, as seen in Fig. 3, todetermine the effective size of the orifice controlled by needle valveI09. This will determine the speed with which dashpot piston I01, andtherefore starting arm I08 and compound valve piston 85 will rise underthe action of spring I08. It will be noted that the speed of operationmay be altered during operation by moving timing handle II2.

Knob I30 is then moved to the radial position which will give thedesired water temperature by setting cam actuator I29, which determinesthe neutral position of thermostat element I24. This will control thetemperature of both soap water and rinse water.

Valve handle 95 is then set in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig.3, if it is desired to discharge the soap water from drum I8 intostorage tank I l', for use over again later; or the handle 95 is turneddownward to a vertical position if it be desired to discharge the soapwater into the drain.

Soap dispenser feeder handle I42 is then set at the desired axialposition to dump the desired amount of soap into the tank II, suchsetting providing for no soap, minimum, medium, or maximum amounts ofsoap, as desired.

Bluing dispenser lock handle I63 is then set to the right, as shown inFig. 20, if bluing is desired, or to the left if no bluing is to beused.

With the various adjustments thus set, the machine is ready foroperation, and is started by pushing operating arm I08 against thepressure of spring I08 down as far as it will go, to the position shownin Fig. 3. As operating arm I08 is brought down, the pressure of theliquid in dashpot I06 forces valve III upward against the pressure ofits spring, permitting rapid descent of dashpot piston I01. On itsdownward path, operating arm I08 performs the following operations:

1. Bluing ladle I54 is lowered into the bluing, assuming that lockhandle I63 is turned to the position shown in Figs. 18 and 20, by meansof abutment II of operating arm I08 acting on bluing dispenser rod I39thru pin I60.

2. Soap dispenser feeder I35 is rotated to dump into tank M an amount ofsoap predetermined by the setting of feeder handle I42 (unless feederhandle I42 is set in the no soap position, in which case clutch membersI43 and I44 will not engage, and the soap feeder will not be operated).Operating arm I 08, thru abutment H5 and pin I60 actuates rod I39,which, thru pin I39, carries rack I38 downward, thereby actuating feederI35 thru pinion I31 and clutch members I43 and I44.

3. Near the lower terminus of its downward The timing of the washingcycle isdetermined by moving needle-valve operating movement, operatingarm I08, which carries fork I68 mounted thereon, closes switch I61,thereby energizing motor 52. thru bevel gears 53 and 54, therebyoperating centrifugal pump 51. Since cover 42 is fastened down by meansof operating knob 66, drive shaft 56 is frictionally clutched to hub I1,so that the drum I8 rotates with shaft 56. It should be noted, however,that friction clutch 62, 63 permits enough slippage between shaft 56 andhub I1 to permit the drum to start slowly, thereby pre-[ valve in thisposition, water enters the machine thru pipes II8, passes thruproportioning chamber I20, where the proportions of hot and cold waterare determined by thermostatic element I24, and is admitted by valve 81thru port 86 into valve chamber 83 and, thru restriction valve 88, intovalve chamber 8I, as in Fig. 3. It will be noted that, with restrictionvalve 88 always open, water is admitted to valve chamber 8 I, regardlessof the position of valve piston 85. Since valve chamber BI is connectedby pipe I03 (Fig. 8) with water lubricating chamber I6, lubrication forbearings I4 and I5 is assured thruout the cycle.

As soon as operating arm I08 is released at the bottom of its movement,it begins to rise under the action of spring I08, the speed of itsupward movement depending upon the setting of needlevalve I09, which isoperable by handle II2. While operating arm I08 is in the position shownin Fig. 3, and during the first part of its upward movement, it will beseen that water is admitted to valve chamber 82 from chamber 83.Referring now to Fig. 8, it will be seen that water which is admitted tochamber 82 passes into storage tank II; admission into said tank II'being also regulated by float valve 84, which prevents overflow of tankI I. Water continues to be admitted to tank II, under control of floatvalve 84, until valve chamber 83 is closed by valve piston 85, as shownin Fig. 5. It will be noted that valve 84 is so constructed that, oncethe valve has been raised to closed position by its float, it remains inclosed position so long as water pressure is maintained in chamber 82. Aloose washer 84' is provided to guard the float from water stream-.

ing upward thru the valve.

In this position of valve stem 85, water can no longer be admitted totank I I since valve chamber 82 is now shut off from valve chamber 83.It will be noted (Fig. 8) that pipe 92, leading to suction end of pump51, is connected. to valve chamber 14. In the valve position of Fig. 5,chamber 14 is connected to chamber 13 after chamber 83 is isolated fromchamber 82, and pump suction draws soap water from tank II thru intakepipe 91, chambers 13, 14, pipe 92, and pump 51, forcing it underpressure thru pipe IOI into valve chamber 18', from which it flows intovalve chambers 11 and 15, thru port 98 into the bottom of well 24. Itwill be noted that in the first position of valve 85 (Fig. 3),centrifugal pump 51 was inoperative, since it empties into valve chamber18 from which there is no exit.

The latter drives shaft 56 v In the position of the valve of Fig. 5,however, pump 51 forces water in chamber 18, from which it enterschamber 11 which is connected with chamber 15.

Soap water which reaches well 24 is picked up by rotating drum vanes 23(Fig. 1), which, together with the centrifugal force of the water, carrythe water upward into the space between frusto-conical members 28, 29,the frusto-conical shape of the members, when the drum is rotating, alsourging the water level upward, creating a positive head of wateravailable to the drum. The centrifugal action of the rotating drum andits contents urges the water outward thru perforated wall 29, thru thecontents of the drum, thoroughly cleansing same, thru screens 21', 21and apertures 26 of drum IS. The water thus expelled from rotating drumI8 runs down bafiie wall 34 and onto bottom plate 32 back into well 24,to be again picked up by vanes 23 and forced thru the contents of thedrum. As the water runs over bottom plate 32, its temperature ismaintained by heating elements 33. This process is continued until allthe soap water has been drawn from container II by pump 51, andcirculated repeatedly in cleansing the contents of drum I8.

When valve piston. 85 reaches the position of Fig. 6, sufficient timehas elapsed to cleanse the contents of drum I8. In the valve position ofFig. 6, pump 51 is inoperative since inlet chamber 13 is isolated frompump inlet chamber 14. In this position of the valve, water drains fromthe bottom of well 24 thru port 98 into chamber 15 and thence intochamber 16. If it is desired to save the soap water to be used again,diversion valve 96 has been turned to the horizontal position shown inFig. 8, and the soap water drains from chamber 18 thru drain connection94 into tank II. If, however, it is not desired to save the soap waterfor further use, valve 99 is turned to the vertical position connectingvalve chamber 16 with pump intake chamber 14, and the course of thewater in this case will be from well 24 thru port 98' to chambers 15, 16and 14, pump intake pipe 92, pump 51, pump discharge port I I, chambers18 and 19, and drain port I02. This continues until all of the soapwater is discharged either to tank I I or to a drain.

The valve next assumes the position shown in Fig. 7. In this positionwater from the proportioning chamber is admitted thru valve 81 intovalve chamber 8I thru restriction valve 88, which is set to limit theflow of rinse water. Chamber 8| is now connected with valve chamber 80and the water passes from there thru port 99 to valve chamber 15 andport 98 into well 24. Here this clean water is picked up by vanes 23 andforced thru rotating drum I8 and its contents in the same manner as wasthe soap water previously.

At a desired point in the rinsing step, operating handle abutment Hactuates pin- I90 to raise rod I 39', tipping bluing ladle I54 ontobottom plate 32, where it mixes with the incoming rinse water.

Water which has passed thru the rotating'drum and its contents runs downport 89 into chamber 1I, thru chamber 12 into pump intake chamber 14,thru pump 51, and is discharged thru port IOI, chambers 18 and 19 todrain I02.

' It will be noted that throughout the soaping and rinsing steps, drumI8 rotates above the water level in well 24, so that little energy needbe used to rotate the drum, and high speed rotation thereof is possible.

Operating arm I08 and valve piston reach the end of their upwardmovement in the position shown in Fig. 8. In this position of the valve,no water can be admitted to the drum or pump either from proportioningchamber I20 or tank II. This is the drying step. Watever waterisdischarged by rotating drum I8 drains 01f thru port 98, chambers 15 and14, pump 51 and out thru chambers 18 and 19 to drain port I02.

During this drying step, while water is removed from the drum contentsby centrifugal force, air is admitted thru the annular space betweenouter casing 36 and skirt 31, passes over bottom plate 32, where it isheated by means of heaters 3 3 r1e or more of which is or are energizedby thermostatic switch I69 which is responsive to 2 the temperature ofplate 32. If preferred, switch I69 may be actuated manually. The airpasses upward between vanes 23 and thru the contents of the rotatingdrum, the rotating drum I8 and its contents acting as a centrifugal pumpto force the air outward and up between drum I8 and baflie wall 34 andout thru the annular passage in cover 38, 39. As the air leaves thedrum, it is directed upward by upwardly slanted apertures 26. Part ofthe air leaving drum I8 passes thru a tortuous passage (which preventsthe entrance of water particles expelled from drum I8) into intimatecontact with humidity sensitive element I1I. Deflector plate 35 isarranged to provide an annular aperture between plate 35 and bafile wall34. Deflector plate 35 prevents the rotational velocity of bottom 2| ofdrum I8 from interfering with air entering from the bottom of outercasing 38 into the well 24. It will be noted that the outer edge ofdeflector plate 35 is turned upward toward the drum, forming an annularthroat at this point. The low pressure at this point is instrumental ininducing flow of air downward around humidity-sensitive element I1I.When the air leaving drum I8 has reached a desired minimum degree ofmoisture, humidity sensitive element I1I operates to open switch I12,switch I81 having been opened by fork I68 when arm I08 reached the upperterminus of its movement. Switch I12 may be opened manually, if it isnot desired to operate the drier in response to humidostat I1I. Thisdeenergizes the motor, and the drum is brought to a stop, the slowingdown of the drum being indicated acoustically by the impacts offlyweight 43 against cover boss 48. This notifies the operator that thewashing cycle is completed and the clothes are clean and have reachedthe desired minimum moisture content.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described andillustrated, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations are possible within the scope of theinvention and of the claims appended hereto. While the invention hasbeen described with particular reference to clothes washing, it iscontemplated that the invention may be utilized for the treatment ofmaterial for various other purposes. For example, in view of theprovisions described above for saving the cleaning fluid for reuselater, it will be understood that this invention lends itself for use asa dry cleaning machine.

It will also be understood that various features of this invention areadapted for general use other than in combination with a washingmachine.

It is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a washing machine, a stationary support comprising a hollowstandard; a drum comprising a hub mounted for rotation on hearings onsaid standard, a substantially cylindrica1 wall and a bottom providedwith an annular central aperture surrounding, said hub; an annularchamber between said standard and said hub and extending between saidbearings; an annular skirt surrounding said aperture and depending fromsaid bottom; a plurality of radial vanes connecting said skirt and saidhub; and means for introducing washing fluid into said annular chamberfor lubricating said bearings.

2. A washing machine comprising a base provided with a housing, astationary central hollow standard within said housing, a drum having ahub rotatably supported on said standard, said base comprisingagstpragegtank-located beneath said housing and rotatable drum, a pumpcommunicating with said housing and said storage tank, a pump casing anda gear casing located beneath said hub and standard and within theconfines of said tank, a drive shaft within said gear and wall and saiddrum, a stationary bottom plate carried by said support adjacent thelower end of said drum and spaced from said baffle wall to provide anannular air admission aperture between said bottom plate and said bafllewall, and a closure member for the upper end of said baille wallprovided with an annular aperture communicating with said annular spacebetween said bafile wall and said drum.

4. An automatic washing machine comprising a storage tank and a clothescontainer, valve means for admitting tap water. to said tank, meansoperable in conjunction with said valve means for admitting water fromsaid tank to'said clothes container, means for circulating said Waterrepeatedly thru said container, meansfor draining said water back to thetank, means for continuously admitting tap water to said'container andcontinuously draining it therefrom for a predetermined period of time,and means for discontinuing admission of water to said container uponthe termination of said predetermined period.

5. A washing machine comprising a frame provided with a tank and avertical standard, a drum mounted on said standard, a drive shaftpassing thru said standard, means for connecting said shaft in drivingengagement with said drum, a pump operable by said drive shaft, hot andcold water inlets, a proportioning chamber for thermostaticallyproportioning the amount of hot and cold water admitted to said drum, acompound valve, means for sequentially urging said compound valve thru aplurality of positions, in the first position said valve connecting saidproportioning chamber to said tank, in the second position said valveconnecting said tank to the pump inlet and connecting the pump outlet tosaid drum, in the third position said valve connecting said drum to adrain, in the fourth position said valve connecting said proportioningchamber to said drum, said pump inlet to said drum, and said pump outletto a drain, and in a fifth position said valve connecting said drum tosaid pump inlet and said pump outlet to a drain.

6. A washing machine as defined in claim 5, adjustable dashpot meansbeing provided for adjustably determining the speed of movement of saidvalve.

7. A washing machine as defined in claim 5, soap dispensing means fordepositing variable, predetermined quantities of soap Within said tank,bluing dispensing means, adjustable to operative and inoperativeposition, for depositing a predetermined quantity of bluing in saiddrum, and means, movable with said compound valve, for actuating saidsoap dispensing means and said bluing dispensing means at predeterminedpositions of said valve.

8. A washing machine comprising a frame provided with a hollow standardand a tank having an inlet and an outlet port, an annular well carriedby said frame and provided with upper and lower ports, a rotatableapertured drum provided with a hub supported on bearings on saidstandard, an annular chamber between said hub and standard communicatingwith said bearings and provided with a fluid inlet, a drive shaftpassing thru said standard for driving said hub, a pump having a fluidinlet and a fluid outlet; a source of water; a compound slide valvecomprising a cylinder provided with a plurality of chambers and acompound piston movable thru said chambers; means for connecting certainof said valve chambers with said water source, said tank inlet andoutlet ports, said upper and lower well ports, said pump inlet andoutlet, said fluid inlet to said bearing chamber, and a drain.

9. A washing machine as defined in claim 8, wherein one valve chamber isconnected to said upper well port, a second valve chamber is connectedto a third valve chamber which is connected to said pump inlet, a fourthvalve chamber is connected to the tank outlet port, a fifth valvechamber is connected to said lower well port, a sixth valve chamber, adiversion valve for alternatively connecting said sixth valve chamber tosaid third valve chamber or to a second inlet to said tank, a seventhvalve chamber connected to said fifth chamber, an eighth chamberconnected with the outlet of said pump, a ninth valve chamber connectedwith said drain, a tenth chamber connected with said fifth and seventhchambers, an eleventh valve chamber connected with said source of waterand with said bearing chamber fluid inlet, a twelfth valve chamberconnected with said first tank inlet port, and a thirteenth valvechamber connected to said source of water and said eleventh valvechamber.

10. In an automatic washing machine comprising a clothes container, acompound slide valve comprising a valve cylinder comprising a pluralityof valve chambers, a compound piston passing thru said valve chambersand having a starting and a final position; means connecting said valvewith said clothes container, a drain and a source of water; an operatingmember for moving said valve piston to its starting position; resilientmeans urging said member and valve piston from starting to finalposition; a dashpot cylinder supported on said valve cylinder; and adashpot piston rigidly connected with said operating member and fittingwithin said dashpot cylinder.

1l. An automatic washing machine as defined in claim 10, said dashpotpiston being provided with a needle valve, and means for adjusting saidneedle valve to vary the rate of movement of said operating member underthe influence of said resilient means.

12. An automatic washing machine as defined in claim 10, said dashpotpiston being provided with a spring-pressed valve, and means for openingsaid valve to permit rapid movement of said operating member and itsassociated valve and dashpot pistons.

13. A washing machine comprising a support, a vertical, perforated drumprovided with a bottom wall having a fluid admission aperture centrallythereof and mounted on said support for rotation about a vertical axis,a cylindrical bafile wall surrounding said drum and providing an annularspace between said wall and said drum, a stationary bottom plate onsaid. support spaced from the bottom Wall of said drum and providing anannular fluid admission aperture between said bottom plate and the lowerend of said bafile wall, and a stationary annular deflecting platebetween said drum and bottom plat and closely adjacent said bottom wallof said drum, the outer edge of said deflecting plate being turned up toform a restricted throat between said deflecting plate and said drum.

14, In a washing machine, a rotary apertured drum comprising asubstantially cylindrical wall and a bottom wall provided with anannular centralv aperture adjacent the central axis thereof,

an annular skirt depending from said bottom wall adjacent said centralaperture, a plurality of radial vanes within said skirt, said vanesbeing downwardly and forwardly inclined in the direction of rotation ofsaid drum, and a pluralty of circumferential ribs internally of saidcylindrical wall.

15. In a washing machine, a stationary support comprising a hollowstandard, a drum comprising a hub mounted for rotation on bearings onsaid standard; an annular chamber between said standard and said hub andextending between said bearings; and means for introducing washing fluidinto said annular chamber for lubricating said bearings.

16. A washing machine comprising a support, a vertical, perforated drumprovided with a bottom wall having a fluid admission aperture centrallythereof and mounted on said support for rotation about a vertical axis,a cylindrical baflle wall surrounding said drum and providing an annularspace between said wall and said drum, a stationary bottom plate on saidsupport spaced from the bottom wall of said drum and providing anannular fluid admission aperture between said bottom plate and the lowerend of said baflle Wall, and a heating element intimately contactingsaid bottom plate for heating the fluid passing thereover.

LUDVIG ANDERSF

